Election of Sheriffs

The "Livery assembled in Common Hall" elect two Sheriffs each Midsummer Day at Guildhall in the City of London.

Normally, one of the Sheriffs is an alderman, who will hope to go on to become the Lord Mayor of London; and the other, sometimes referred to as the non-aldermanic sheriff, who has no further civic ambitions after completing his year at the Old Bailey.

All liverymen, but not their spouses or guests, are eligible to attend Common Hall at Guildhall on Midsummer Day (24th June). It is helpful (though not essential - an electoral register is held at the door) to the admission process if you have an entry pass, and these are available on request from the Clerk (no charge). This is always a very popular event, and you should arrive early to secure a seat. Though the proceedings don't begin until 11.45am, 11 o'clock is not too early to be there.

Only liverymen clothed prior to May the previous year are eligible to vote, so when the election for the two sheriffs is contested, new liveryman are honour bound not to put their hands up!

[The reason for the "more than 12 months" rule was to prevent liveries packing their membership at the last moment to get their favoured candidate elected.]

In 2012 Alderman Jeffery Evans and Nigel Pullman were each elected by the liverymen of the (then) 108 Livery Companies in June and can be seen photographed together above. They were succeeded in September 2013 by Alderman Sir Paul Judge and Adrian Waddingham CBE.

For a more detailed note on the Common Hall elections for the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs, specifically written with masters in mind, please click here.